Newsletter December 2020

NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2020

Andrea and Ipo posed with this painting by Eric Dyne.

Christmas Party and SGM

The Art club Christmas party this year was held on 28 November and was a ended by a colourful crowd.

The table was laden with delicious food and there was seasonal cheer in abundance.

In the half hour before the party club members gathered for a Special General Meeting to discuss increasing the annual subscription.

Members unanimously agreed to the changes to subscripons proposed by your committee. These will take effect from 1 January 2021. See details of the new subscriptions below.

Welcome to new members:

Jennifer Kruk,

Rika Nagahata,

Deborah Stoebe,

Joanna Shrigley,

Miranda Munro,

Rod Bentley-Bishop,

Royd Bussell,

Muriel Chrisanson,

Elizabeth Chrise,

Gail McMaster,

Mylee Morris,

Niki Partsch,

Edie Simone,

Deborah Stoebe,

Sameera Waqas,

Erana Watson

Exhibition a great success

This year at the Rita Angus Art Exhibition we enjoyed high sales numbers. In total we sold 26 framed paintings and 9 unframed paintings to improve on last year’s sales of 14 paintings. Speculation that people are investing in home improvements instead of overseas travel have given us a much needed financial boost.

Thanks to all the club members and their partners who helped with the set-up of the exhibition and running the desk during the weekend.

Special thanks to Rita who created the spreadsheet from all the entries and to Jean, our Treasurer who kept track of the money.

We are grateful to Ryman Healthcare who donate the venue and publicise the event. They also hosted the opening night party.

Thanks to Graham Calcott for donating this oil painting South Coast, Wellington.
Members sold tickets to visitors at Rita Angus Exhibition to raises funds for the club. The raffle was drawn at the end of the exhibition and Phil Dickson won the painting. Congratulation, Phil!

Big plans for small works

At the Rita Angus Exhibition this year entries included a category for small works which proved of much interest to the visitors and generated many sales.

However the entry form displayed the wrong size which caused confusion at check in. The size should have been 29 cm x 25 cm.

8 x 10 inch frames at the Warehouse measure the glass - not the outside of the frame. The measurements have been corrected for 2021 entry forms.

Also the committee plan to improve the hanging system to best display the paintings for our next exhibition.

Wellington Art Club was able to donate 10% of our profit from the Rita Angus Exhibition to Melanoma New Zealand which is Ryman Healthcare nominated charity.

Sarah with her intricate ink art

Sarah Wilson is a new member of the club who creates intricate ink art that celebrates the home and family. Her unique, quirky designs explore the beauty and wonder that exist in the everyday. Sarah had some quality cards printed of her drawings and in her very organised manner (ex- school teacher) manned a table in the Rita Angus atrium during the exhibition and made many sales. Sarah said she enjoyed the chats and interaction she had with her many visitors.

CONGRATULATIONS

Wednesday regular Richard Acey made the cover of Dalesman - The best of Yorkshire with his painting.

The Wednesday painters were lucky to see the painting as it was created earlier in the year.

REPAIRS & IMPROVEMENTS

A Swell fix for the skylight

In September the club rooms were damaged by high winds. One of the older skylights at the north end was broken. Fortunately Mike and Josh from Swell Plumbing came and fixed the large hole before it rained. We are currently in negotiations with the insurance company to either replace with a new skylight or roof over permanently and line the ceiling. The patch will hold for a while until we can get quotes and decide on the permanent repair.

New LED lights for clubrooms to switch on in 2021

The committee have secured a quote to replace the aged fluorescent lights with LED ba en lights in the main room of the clubrooms.

LED ba en lights have significant advantages – they consume less energy, provide greater light output than traditional systems and have a far greater lifespan than our exiting fluorescent tubes. We anticipate installation by Ascent Electrical early in the new year.

Workshop Reviews

Magda’s Hot Wax Workshop

In September I attended a three hour taster workshop with Magda van der Walt to try out some Encaustic Art or hot wax painting which involves creating artworks using pigmented wax blocks applied to a surface using various methods including a hot iron, a heat gun or a hot tile for melting the wax blocks. We also used various scribing tools to create texture in the wax.

Magda was a great tutor and demonstrated the various techniques along with plenty of examples of what could be achieved. We were then encouraged to have a go and Magda made sure we tried all the methods and moved round the
room assisting us in our efforts. I attempted to create some leaves using the hot iron and was very surprised to achieve a creditable result.

Everyone in the group was able to take away some very attractive and colourful pieces at the end, which was over all too soon.

Magda said she finds the process very soothing and I can certainly see the attraction. I’m sure others would love this workshop if there was another opportunity. Thank you Magda for making it so enjoyable.

Rita Q.

Charlotte’s Framing Workshop

On a Saturday in October I attended Charlotte’s workshop on picture framing along with some other artist's keen to learn this.

Charlotte took us through the steps she follows for framing her own work. She talked about signing and photographing your art and deciding on a mat size to fit your chosen frame size. She then demonstrated how to put it all together.

Charlotte’s sister, Rachel came along and demonstrated how to cut a mat to size. I found this really useful as I had possessed a mat cutter for some years but had never mastered how to use it correctly.

We all had help to follow the steps and frame a piece of art and everyone was happy to have learnt a new skill. Thank you Charlotte and Rachel for sharing your knowledge.

Annette S.

Upcoming Workshops in 2021

Juliet Best - 18 February 2021

Juliet will be demonstrating and teaching her painting skills in a one day workshop on Thursday 18 February.
"The joy of expression - big swooping background moves of brush and paint over canvas, then careful respectful strokes for detail, letting the buttery paint slip and slide into the spaces it should fill. To create something visual is a powerful handmade and heartfelt experience" - says Juliet. Her paintings include strong horizon lines and my ongoing work with gold leaf celebrate the beauty and moods of New Zealand skies, landscapes and water.

Put this date in your diary and plan to come and make art at the club with Juliet, www.julietbest.com. More details to come...

Thursday Art with Charlotte

Charlotte will teach a block course of drawing and painting
from 7 - 9pm each Thursday for 4 weeks
from 11/18/25 March and 1 April 2021.

All levels welcome to come draw and paint with watercolours in our friendly environment.

Fee $50 for 4 weeks.

Phone Charlotte on 021373887 for more information.

Transformative Art Workshop with Miranda Munro on 13 March

Miranda will run another workshop on 13 March 2021 with a theme honouring our Mother Earth by connecting to her magic and energy. As usual there will be new techniques to work with, plus lots of discussion and inspiration!

NO ART EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY,
just a willingness to explore and try something new.
Art materials provided.

Contact Miranda to book a place:
www.mirandamunroart.com
Facebook
Email for more details mirandabluehousestudio@gmail.com

A week at the Art Club...

MONDAY

LIFE & FIGURE DRAWING

When: 7-9pm

Fee: $10

Non-tutored, great atmosphere and friendly people.
Life Model and all mediums welcome (odour-less
turps, please)

Group will resume on Monday 18 January 2021

TUESDAY

MIXED MEDIA GROUP

When: 10am - 4pm

Fee: $5.00

Group will resume on Tuesday 5 January 2021

Inquiries: Olympia 021 2553 724

WEDNESDAY

MIXED MEDIA GROUP

When: 10am – 4pm

Fee: $5.00

Group will resume on Wednesday 6 January 2021

Inquiries: Charlotte 021 373 887

FRIDAY

PORTRAIT CLASS

Drawing and painng portraits tutored by Eric Dyne

When: 1-3pm

Fee: $5.00

Group will resume sessions on Friday 8 January 2021

Phone Eric Dyne: 021 847 552

SGM vote for increase

Members of the Wellington Art Club a ending a special general meeting on Saturday 28 November 2020 unanimously voted to set membership subscriptions at $85 per annum, reducible to $75 if paid by 28 February. The club’s financial year commences 1 January.

As the club’s largest expenditure – insurance – occurs in January, early payment of your subscription would be appreciated.

Thanks to members who have paid promptly, especially those who have opted to pay the full $85.00 and not seek the early payment discount.

Payment can be made by direct creding the club’s bank account (Wellington Art Club, 03 0578 0903273 00) or by leaving your payment, in an envelope with a note identifying yourself, in the locked box in the clubrooms.

Regrettably we can no longer accept payment by cheque – all banks, the club’s included, either have or are in the process of withdrawing cheque facilities so your club is obliged to withdraw the previous cheque payment option.

Jean Buchanan - Treasurer

Wellington Art Club Contacts:

President: Charlotte Hird: Phone 021373887 email:wellingtonartclub@gmail.com

Vice President & Secretary: Roger Buchanan: Phone 027 4481241 email:buchanans101@xtra.co.nz

Treasurer: Jean Buchanan: Phone 04 479 2113 email:treasurer@wellingtonart.co.nz

Immediate Past President: Judy Langham: Phone 04 934 3046 email:iamjudyal@gmail.com

Workshop Co-ordinator: Sheila Playford: Phone 021 318 283 email: splayford@xtra.co.nz

Committee Members: Rita Quirk, Kerry Montgomery and Graeme Calcott

Newsletter Editor: Charlotte Hird: Phone 021373887

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